Klaus (2019)
12-month trend
12-month trend
Monthly article views
2025-09 to 2026-08
A disillusioned postman and a reclusive toymaker form an unlikely partnership to bring joy to a divided town.
The story
In 19th-century Norway, the Royal Postmaster General assigns his spoiled son, Jesper Johansen, to the remote island of Smeerensburg. To keep his inheritance, Jesper must establish a post office and deliver 6,000 letters within a year. The town is divided by a bitter feud between the Ellingboes and the Krums. While searching for letters, Jesper encounters Klaus, a reclusive and imposing toymaker living in an isolated house. When Jesper begins delivering Klaus's handmade toys to local children, word spreads, and the children begin to perform acts of kindness, slowly beginning to bridge the divide between the two warring families.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 19th-century Norway, Jesper Johansen is sent to the remote town of Smeerensburg to deliver 6,000 letters or lose his inheritance. The town is split by a long-standing feud between the Ellingboes and the Krums. Jesper meets Klaus, a reclusive toymaker, and begins secretly delivering his handmade toys to local children. This sparks a movement of kindness among the children, who begin to bridge the gap between the warring families. As the truth of Klaus's past—making toys for the children he and his late wife could not have—is revealed, Jesper and Klaus work together to ensure the town's children receive gifts on Christmas Eve. Despite a desperate attempt by the town elders to stop them, the toys are delivered. The film ends with the families reconciled, Jesper and Alva married, and Klaus departing to join his wife, only to return every year to deliver toys across the world.
- First release year
- 2019
- Runtime (minutes)
- 97
- Production countries
- Spain; United States; United Kingdom; Canada
- Original languages
- English; Northern Sami
- Directors
- Sergio Pablos
- Writers
- Sergio Pablos · screenplay; Jim Mahoney · screenplay; Zach Lewis · screenplay; Sergio Pablos · story
- Cast and characters
- Jason Schwartzman · Jesper Johansen; J. K. Simmons · Klaus (Santa Claus); Rashida Jones · Alva; Will Sasso · Mr. Aksel Ellingboe; Neda Margrethe Labba · Márgu; Sergio Pablos · Olaf Krum, Magdelone "Pumpkin" Ellingboe; Norm Macdonald · Mogens; Joan Cusack · Mrs. Tammy Krum
- Genres
- animated; Christmas comedy; adventure; fantasy
- Themes
- friendship; prejudice; sacrifice; tradition
- Tone and mood
- heartwarming; humorous
- Setting
- 19th-century Norway, specifically the island town of Smeerensburg.
- Premise and plot tags
- origin story; buddy film; coming-of-age
- Reception
- The film received critical acclaim for its animation, story, emotional depth, humor, narrative, and vocal performances. It was noted for its unique hand-drawn look and was praised by critics for its heartwarming narrative and high-quality animation.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 65 · scale: 100 · review count: 13
- Awards and nominations
- Annie Awards · Best Animated Feature · 47th · win; British Academy Film Awards · Best Animated Film · 73rd · win; Academy Awards · Best Animated Feature · 92nd · nomination
- Production trivia
- It was the first animated film from Netflix to be nominated for an Academy Award.; The name Smeerensburg is a deliberate misspelling of Smeerenburg, a former Dutch and Norwegian whaling station.; The film's story was indirectly inspired by the film Batman Begins.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
Your lists
Loading your lists…